First Family Insurance, a local INC 5000 company with over 200 employees in 4 different states, is looking to hire 50 new employees in our corporate headquarters, located in Fort Myers on Tuesday, August 14th at 5:30pm.

After a very up and down market for the past 6 years, recent law changes have opened up more opportunities and we are in the best time to be in the insurance business! As of October 1st, we will have a slew of new plans to sell to clients, and we need employees to handle them.

Positions available range from administrative staff to enrollment agents and customer service representatives. Must have a high school diploma or GED and clean background. We hire and train new agents after passing the state exam. The starting pay is $15 an hour, all the way up to $30 depending on position and performance.

To learn more and apply, you must attend their upcoming job fair, this Tuesday August 14th at 5:30pm at our corporate office located at7800 University Pointe Dr in Fort Myers.

“The affordable care act did not live up to its promise to America,” says Tyler McClosky, Chief Operating Officer for First Family Insurance. “But now, for the first time in years, American’s will finally have the choice and options for better individual Health Insurance coverage. This is a huge win for Americans and our industry!”

Trump Administration Delivers on Promise of More Affordable Health Insurance Options. HHS final rule on short-term, limited-duration insurance brings more flexibility and choices to consumers. On Wednesday, the departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury issued a final rule to help Americans struggling to afford health coverage find new, more affordable options. The rule allows for the sale and renewal of short-term, limited-duration plans that cover longer periods than the previous maximum period of less than three months. This action will help increase choices for Americans faced with escalating premiums and dwindling options in the individual insurance market.

Before President Obama left office, he and his administration took a hard stance on all plans that were not part of ‘Obamacare’ For millions of American’s who relied on Short-Term Major Medical plans that lasted for an entire year, his order made these plan only available for a maximum of 90 days. This left millions of more Americans uninsured and sent other plans premiums much higher.

Short-term, limited-duration insurance, which is not required to comply with federal market requirements governing individual health insurance coverage, can provide coverage for people transitioning between different coverage options, such as an individual who is between jobs, or a student taking time off from school, as well as for middle-class families without access to subsidized ACA plans. Access to these plans has become increasingly important as premiums have escalated for individual market plans, and affordable choices for individuals and families have dwindled.

The average monthly premium for an individual in the fourth quarter of 2016 for a short-term, limited-duration policy was approximately $124, compared with $393 for an unsubsidized individual market plan. – source HHS

It’s the ultimate insurance debate: pay a higher deductible or higher premium? With many employers looking for ways to cut costs, the question to increase your monthly health insurance premiums or to pay a higher deductible is a concern you may be facing sooner rather than later.

First, let’s clarify the difference between a premium and a deductible.

A premium is the amount of money charged by your insurance company for the plan you’ve chosen. It is usually paid on a monthly basis, but can be billed a number of ways. You must pay your premium to keep your coverage active, regardless of whether you use it or not.

A deductible is a set amount you have to pay every year toward your medical bills before your insurance company starts paying. It varies by plan and some plans don’t have a deductible.

In 2017, more employers than ever included a high-deductible option on their 2017 menu of health plan offerings. An August survey of 600 U.S. companies by benefits consultancy Willis Towers Watson found that by 2018, nearly half will offer these plans exclusively. In 2006, high-deductible plans covered just 3 percent of workers. Fast-forward to 2016, and that figure was 29 percent, benefits consultancy Mercer found.

High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs): Pros and Cons

HDHPs work differently than traditional POS (Point of Service) or PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans in that all healthcare expenses are paid out-of-pocket until the deductible is met. The concern with high deductibles is that it causes patients to not seek medical treatment because they fear the expense. Ultimately, this causes more extensive issues later on, such as those relating to diabetes, hypertension, depression, even cancer.

HDHP Pros:

Premiums are typically lower than with POS or PPO plans

Networks are not necessarily narrowed, as with HMOs

People who rarely use their health benefits may save money

If you are not on expensive medications, your monthly bills may be lower

Out-of-pocket expenses are not the market rate, but the negotiated rate between the healthcare provider and insurance company

Policyholders can open a health savings account (HSA), which never “expires,” to help cover out-of-pocket expenses

HDHP Cons:

People managing chronic illnesses find that their out-of-pocket expenses are high

If you need surgery, you will need to hit your deductible before the insurance company will pay anything

If your monthly out-of-pocket expenses are high, you aren’t taking full advantage of your HSA

Your deductible can be quite high (sometimes as much as $13,000 for families)

Those who initially lean toward higher insurance premiums are usually looking to save money in the long run, while those who originally gravitate to the higher deductible plans are looking to put more money in their pockets right now. However, sometimes it’s not that simple.

A 2011 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found American families are increasingly paying more and more out of pocket for their health care costs – a whopping $15,073 for a family health insurance plan. However, it’s unlikely you’ll pay that full amount. With most employer-sponsored health care plans, your company pays a hefty dose of the premiums.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2008, private sector companies paid as much as 71 percent of family health insurance premiums. Public sector employers dished out even more – up to 73 percent.

While a high deductible plan and its subsequent lower premiums can put more money in your pocket, as well as your employer’s pocket, right now, it isn’t always the best choice. The Kaiser Family Foundation study also determined that the average deductible on these consumer-driven plans was nearly double that of traditional health insurance. On top of that, plans with a high deductible often come with a higher out-of-pocket max as well, sometimes as high as $10,000 a year for a family insurance plan.

Which plan is right for you?

As health insurance is not a one-size fits all item anymore, each person has to weigh the pros and cons of high deductible health plans against how they might need to use the policy. A person without an extensive medical history and unmarried without children might be able to risk such a plan. However, if an individual or someone in the family sees a doctor once a month or needs to manage a medical or mental condition, perhaps a PPO would be a better.

Ultimately, choosing the right plan for you and your family can seem like you’re gambling with both your health and your money. If you are unsure of the insurance plan your company is offering you, a licensed insurance agent can assist you in finding a plan directly from the best health insurers.

Since 1949, Americans have observed May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health can be an uncomfortable topic of discussion, not only for those suffering with mental illness, but for those closest to them as well. After all, no one wants to be labeled as “crazy” or have that stigma often associated with mental illness. However, mental health problems are a daily concern for millions of Americans. In fact, Mental Health America reports that 1 in 5 Adults have a mental health condition – that’s over 40 million Americans. (more…)

There’s a disconnect between many online companies/their staff and the public. Companies seem almost robotic, two dimensional, and cold (we’ve all experienced the automated responses, no returned phone call, or what most of us hate the most – email-only support. For the sake of transparency, we want to shatter that barrier and give you an inside look at the people that fuel the drive behind First Family Insurance and the disruption we’re causing in the individual and group health insurance space. (more…)

Most people don’t want to pay for health insurance. For those below the age of thirty living healthy and active lifestyles, health insurance is viewed as an irrelevant, unnecessary cost. The reality is no one plans to get sick or hurt. When given an option to spend money on insurance (and the related costs thereof) or spending money to enjoy themselves, the choice is relatively simple to make. A night out on the town, or monthly premiums for insurance coverage?(more…)

Amazon could do a lot to fix the US health-care system – but Walmart could do more. Walmart, the nation’s biggest employer, is trying to redesign how U.S. health care works. It’s one of the few companies that has the power to succeed. (more…)

Amazon is getting into health care. That’s not speculation, at this point. The company hasn’t spoken much about its plans, as it’s still determining the scope through a series of brainstorming sessions with experts in the space, but its hiring trends and recent product development hint strongly at where it could go. (more…)

Most would agree working in the insurance industry is relatively physically safe, aside from the sedentary lifestyle. Let’s be honest, our biggest risk is exposure to sick people (although no where near healthcare workers) and possibly paper cuts. We’re fortunate enough to have health insurance coverage should something like that happen. However, there is a group of working professionals that lead the pack regarding the lack of health insurance coverage. These workers are also at a very high risk of injury and illness.

Health Insurance Carrier Cigna said on Thursday it would buy pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts for about $54 billion, the latest deal in the sector aimed at tackling soaring healthcare costs. The move follows the $69 billion merger of insurer Aetna and drugstore chain CVS Health announced last December, and highlights a sector-wide trend toward deals between companies that do not have directly overlapping operations. The deals seek to lower healthcare costs by bringing under one roof pharmacy and medical claims, and give the combined entities greater leverage in price negotiations with drugmakers. (more…)